Vehicle tire lock



1943- M. K. BERNHARDT 2,307,663

VEHICLE TIRE LOOK Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1943. M. K. BERNHARDT' VEHICLE TIRE LOCK Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sbeet 2 .m M A m M w e 5 m a WH m M m Jan. 5, 1943. M. K. BERNHARDT 2,307,663

VEHICLE TIRE LOOK Filed April 14, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Jan. 5, 1943 UNITED STATES OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in vehicle tire looks, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a novel apparatus for positively preventing the theft of tires, also the wheels, of motor vehicles, trailers, et cetera.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a locking apparatus of the aforementioned character for all four tires of the vehicle and which is conveniently operable from the drivers scat of said vehicle.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a locking apparatus of the character described which will prevent the vehicle from being moved by unauthorized persons.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a vehicle tire look of the character set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eficient and reliable in use, compact, and which may be manufactured tus constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in horizontal section through one of the looking units.

Figure 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section, taken substantially on the line 33 cf Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section through the equalizer.

Figure 5 is a view in side elevation of the operating lever and look therefor.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view in section, taken substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a plurality of locking units which are designated generally by the reference numeral I, said units being provided adjacent each of the wheels 2 of a Vehicle 3. It will be observed that the rear units I are located forwardly of the rear wheels of the vehicle and that the frront units I are located rearwardly of the front wheels of said vehicle. In the arrangement shown, the front units are mounted through the medium of suitable supports 4 on the members 5 of the steering apparatus of the vehicle in order that said front units may move laterally in unison with the wheels as they are steered. Suitable supports 6 mount the rear units on the rear axle housings I of the* vehicle.

In the embodiment shown, each of the units I includes a transverse, stationary tubular supporting arm 9 which is fixed on its support. The outer portion of the tubular arm 9 is externally reduoed and journaled thereon is a sleeve Il). Fixed on the sleeve 10 is a housing l I. Pivotally mounted at intermediate points, as at I2, in the housing II and protruding from an opening therein is a pair of jaws I3. The jaws I3 are adapted to receive therebetween and to clamp the wheels 2 of the vehicle with the tires I4 thereon.

A toggle l5 in the housing Il opens and closes the jaws I3 in unison. An operating rod i6 is connected to the links of the toggle I5. In Figure 2 of the drawings, the jaws I3 are shown in closed position. A coil spring II in the housing II 15 operatively connected to the rod I6 for opening the jaws I3. This open position of the jawsl3 is indicated in dotted limes in Figure 2 of the drawmgs.

Projecting from the sleeve I Il at an intermediate point and communicating therewith is a housing I8. The rod l6 extends slidably through the housing II, the sleeve I0 and the tubular arm 9 into the housing I8. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 3 of the draWings, circumferential slots I9 in the tubular arm 9 accommodate the rod I6 and permit rotation of the sleeve Il) with said rod therein. A key actuated look 20 in the outer end portion of the tubular arm 9 releasably secures the sleeve Il] against rotation With the unit I projecting horizontally. A cable 2! passes through the tubular arm 9 and has une end connected to the rod I6 for retracting said rod against the tension of the coil spring I! in a manner to close the jaws I3. The cable 2I is trained over suitable pulleys 22 which are provided therefor.

Mounted beneath the vehicle 3 is an equalizing unit 23. The equalizing unit 23 includes a case ing 24 having mounted transversely therein a pair of spaced, parallel rods 25. A pair of fiat, metallic bars 26 are slidably and loosely mounted for operation on the rods 25. Flexible conduits 21 extend from the casing 24 to the inner ends of the tubular arms 9. The cables pass through the flexible conduits 21 and have their other ends connected to the end portions of the bars 26. The links of a toggle 28 are pivotally connected to the bars 26 at intermediate points. A cable 29 has une end connected to the toggle 28 for actuating the bars 26 in a direction to close the jaws !3. Return springs 30 are connected to the bars 26.

The other end of the cable 25 is connected to one end portion of a hand lever 3! which is pivotally mounted on the instrument panel 32 of the vehicle. The cable 29 is trained over a pulley 33. The hand lever 3| is provided with a ratchet 3 3 with which a suitable key aotuated look 35 is engageable for locking the jaws 13 in closed position. A conduit 33 is provided for the sable 28.

It is thought that the manner in Which the apparatus functionS will be readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefiy, when -it is desired to close the jaws I3, on all of the wheels of the vehicle, the operator simply actuates the hand lever 31 in a direction to pull the bars 26 toward each other against the tension of the springs 39 through the medium of the cable 29 and the toggle 28, the look 35 automaticaliy securing sad hand lever. Movement of the bars 26 toward each other actuates the rods i through the medium of the cables 2! for opening the toggles l5, thereby closing the jaws 13. When the handle 31 is unlocked, the springs 353 and H! return the jaws l3 to open position. When it is desired to change a tire or a wheel, the sleeve of the adjacent unit 1 is unlocked at 25 from its supporting arm 9 for permitting said unit to swing downwardly to an out-oi-the-way position.

It is believed that the many advantages of a vehicle tire look constructed in accordance With the present invention will be read1y understood, and although a preferred embodrment of the apparatus is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle tire look et the character described comprising tubular supDorting arms mounted transversely on the vehicle adjacent the wheels thereof, housings mounted on said arms, pairs of coa-cting clamping jaws pivotally mounted in the housings and protruding therefrom for clamping the tires of the vehicle therebetween, toggles in the housings operatively connected to the pairs of jaws, rods operatively connected to said toggles and extending slidably into the tubular arms, springs in the housings operatively connected to the rods for opening the jaws, cables in the tubular arms connected to the rods for opening the jaws against the tension of said springs, and means for actuating said cables.

2. A vehicle tire look of the character described comprising a plurality of tubular arms mounted transversely on the vehicle adjacent the Wheels thereof, sleeves journaled on said arme, housings fixed on said sleeves, pairs of coacting jaws pivotally mounted in the housings and protruding therefrom for clamping the tires of the vehicle therebetween, cables in the tubular arms, means operatively connecting said cables to the jaws for closing said jaws, and means .for releasably looking the sleeves against rotation on the tubular arms.

3. A vehicle tire look -of the character described comprising pairs of jawsmounted on the vehicle and adapted to grip the tires of said vehicle, a casing mounted on the vehicle, a pair of rods in said casing, a pair of bars slidably mounted on said rods, cables connecting said bars to the pairs of jaws for closing said jaws, a t-oggle connected to the bars, a hand lever, means operatively connecting said hand lever to the toggle for actuating the bars ina direction to close the jaws, and return springs in the casing connected to the bars.

MERRLL K. BERNHARDT. 

